Display mounting for mops



June 7, 1938. R. HENN DISPLAY MOUNTING FOR MOPS Filed NOV. 23, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 7, 1938.

R. F. HENN DISPLAY MOUNTING FOR MOPS Filed Nov. 23, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 7, 1938.

R. F HENN DISPLAY MOUNTING FOR MOPS Filed Nov. 25, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" 11 Claims.

This invention relates to display packages for dust mops and the like, and among other objects, aims to provide a display package of attractive appearance which is unique in that it displays the mop with its yarn spread out to the maximum extent, against a preferably contrasting background, thus revealing to the prospective purchaser the full size of the mop. The invention further provides a display packagewhich permanently holds the yarn spread out; which protects the yarn against being soiled or mussed by prospective customers and also prevents loss of or damage to any labels which may be attached to the mops; which employs a glossy,

' transparent cover whose high-lights enhance the eye-appeal of the package; and which holds the mop centered relative to its background. The invention has other objects which will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of a package embodying the invention;

25 Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, showing the easel leg extended;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1, the,

thickness of the cover sheet being exaggerated;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the mop-supporting means, per se, showing in dotted lines an alternative position of the free ends of said means;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another form of dis:- play package, the mop frame being shown in dotted lines and the transparent cover sheet being omitted;

Fig. 6 is a central vertical section through the form of Fig. 5, showing in dotted lines the approximate contour of the transparent cover sheet and showing the package supported by its easel le Fig. '7 is a plan view of a box-like form of display package, the cover sheet being broken away to expose the interior;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 7, showing the easel leg supporting the package;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view showing another method of holding the mop against displacement relative to a support; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan View showing part of a mop and its backing sheetv held together by staples, but one of which is shown.

One of the major drawbacks of known methods of displaying dust mops and similar articles arises from the soft and yielding characteristics of the yarn which makes up the bodies ofsuch articles. When packed or wrapped in containers and packages heretofore used, the yarn is necessarily so compacted that the mop does not appear to be of more than half its true size. Thus will inhibit handling and mussing of the mops and which will reveal the full size of the mops; also for a method of displaying. such articles which, by enhancing their attractiveness, will induce merchants to display an entire line me; show window, etc. I The present invention fully meets these needs. I

Referring to the drawings, and first to 1-4 inclusive, there is shown a display package for dust mops and the like comprising a backing sheet ill, which maybe of cardboard, fiberboard or thin wood, an easel leg ll preferably of cardboard or fiberboard, and attached to the back of the backing sheet as' by staples I2, means I3 for engagement with the frame of the mop to prevent movement of the mop laterally while held against the backing sheet in display position, and a cover sheet 14 of a tough transparent flexible material such as Cellophane, which is secured as by an adhesive [5 to the back of the backing sheet I!) along the edges'thereof. -The flexible transparent sheet I4 is spread over the mop l6 after the mop frame I! has: been engaged with the mop holding means I3 and the mop has been arranged so that its yarn is symmetrically placed. The flexible sheet l l'is then subjected to tension, which causes the yarn ofthe mop to spread outwardly to the maximum extent permitted by the dimensions ofthe mop along the edges of the backing board I0) until the adhesive l5 has completely. dried. To resist the bending effect of the tensioned sheet M, the backing'sheet I!) should be quite stiff and unyielding. The flexible sheet then serves as a retainer to hold the mop against separation from the mop holding means l3 and said mop holding means will substantially prevent lateral move-- ment of-the mopin any direction between the.

, and the sheet is held under tension (as by clamps displayed to best advantage. When the packages are being handled and during shipment the easel leg II will be folded flat against the back of the backing sheet Ill, but when the mops are to be displayed by the merchant, as on a store coimter or in a show window, the legs will be bent outwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2, said legs readily creasing as along the line IE to permit such bending.

The mop holding means may be made in various ways. In Figs. 1 and 4, the mop holding means l3 consists of a strip of cardboard which is secured as by staples I! to the backing sheet II! on the front face thereof and parallel to one of the longitudinal edges of the backing sheet. Obviously, instead of employing staples, an adhesive may be used to secure the strip l3 to the backing sheet. The staples I! are not attached to the ends of the strip l3 because the said ends |3a should be free of the backing sheet to permit bending them back, as shown in Fig. 4, to form shoulders upon which the frame [1 may rest when the package is in the upright position of Fig. 2. The doubled ends |3a are of such dimensions as substantially to fit inside the looped ends of the wire frame H, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, any shaking of the package (which may occur during transportation) will not cause shifting of the mops relative to their backing sheets, which shifting would result in an unsightly package, particularly if there is a color contrast between the mops and the sheets forming the backgrounds. Due to the resiliency of cardboard, that is, its tendency to restore itself to its original position even after beingcreased, the doubled ends |3a in practice will have a tendency to rise, that is, to separate from the strip l3, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4'. If this separation occurs, the shoulders provided by said doubled ends would be widened and hence the mop frame would be better'supported against Shifting laterally. In practice, the yarn of the mop is so pressed inwardly against the backing sheet by the tension of the flexible cover sheet l4 that the ends |3a are not permitted to move outwardly veryflfar, yet any outward movement which is permitted is desirable. However, if the ends l3a lie absolutely fiat against the strip I3, still the mop cannot be displaced if the transparent cover sheet is secured under the proper tension to the backing sheet.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the form of the invention there shown comprises a stiff backing sheet generally similar to the backing sheet H), but having an integral easel leg 2|, which is formed by slitting the material of the backing sheet. The easel leg 2| has a'finger hole 22 which facilitates bending of the easel leg away from the backing sheet. It also permits inspection Of the yarn through the hole 22 without breaking the package. The means for holding the mop against lateral movement with respect to the backing sheet here comprises a single strip of cardboard or the like, which is glued or otherwise secured to the front face of the backing sheet by means of flanges 23, 24, said strip of cardboard being bent to provide a shoulder 25 which is substantially at right angles to the plane of the backing sheet, said shoulder 25 providing a support for part of the mop frame, which is shown in dotted lines in Fig.5. The portion 26 of the mop'frame support lies at an acute angle to the backing sheet and at the ends provides abutments for contact said wire frame tending to deform the 3 ends of the portion 26, as will be understood from Fig. 5, so that the mop frame contacts with its support at three points and is thus held substantially rigidly on the backing sheet. A sheet of tough, flexible, transparent material 21 (for example, Cellophane) holds the mop pressed firmly against the backing sheet 20 so as to spread the yarn outwardly and so as to prevent the mop from falling off its support. Displacement of the mop is thus made impossible, and once centered with respect to the backing sheet, it will be maintained fully spread out to impress the purchaser by its size and to attract the purchasers eye by the color contrast between the yarn and the backing sheet. Furthermore the cover sheet 21 protects the mopand its label against handling.

Referring to the form of invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, instead of employing merely a simple backing sheet having means for holding the mopagainst displacement, I employ a box-like holder for the mop having an open side covered with a sheet of Cellophane or a similar material. The box 39 has an easel leg 3| which is glued or otherwise secured to the back thereof,

as shown in Fig. 8, and has a mop holding mem- L ber 32 which is similar in all respects to the mop holding member of Figs. 5 and 6, said mop holding member 32 being glued or otherwise secured to the inside of the box. The mop is held immovable within the box 30 in the same manner in which it is held on the backing sheet 2|), that is, with its frame in contact with the ends of the supporting member 32 and also in contact with the right angular leg of said support. However,

in this form, the yarn of the mop is not pressed 1* against the bottom of the box by the transparent cover sheet. The box is of such dimensions that the yarn of the mop will nearly fill the box on the interior and said, yarn is restrained against outward movement by the sheet of Cellophane 33 which is stretched tightly across the open face of the box. The edges of the sheet of Cellophane are preferably glued to the outside of the box and a retaining strip 34, which completely surrounds the box, will hide the unsightly glued edges of the Cellophane sheet. The strip 34 is preferably of cardboard of the same character as the cardboard used for making the box 3|] and it will appear to be a part of the box itself. As small portions of the interior of the box will be revealed around the edges of the mop, and as a color contrast is highly desirable, a strip of colored paper 35 is preferably pasted inside of the box or, if desired, the inner surfaces of the box may all be of a color contrasting with the color of the mop.

In' Fig. 9, I have shown still another means of holding a mop upon a backing sheet or box. As there shown, the backing sheet or box 40 has a plurality of apertures 4| of a convenient size to 3.

permit some of the strands of the yarn of the mop to be pulled out through the apertures and tied together so as to unite the mop temporarily to the backing sheet or box. Preferably, at least wo strands of yarn are pulled out through each aperture 4| and the strands which project through two adjacent apertures are knotted, as indicated at 42. This form of the mop holding means obviously could be used with any one of the three forms of packages shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7 In the form of Fig. 10, the mop is held by ordinary wire staples immovably upon its backing sheet 46. Three or more staples 45 will ordinarily be used. The staples 45 are shown as embracing several strands of the yarn 41 of the mop but if desired they may embrace the heavy wire frame of the mop, as will be understood from Fig. 1. Instead of staples, a plurality of wire loops (not shown) may each embrace the wire frame and be passed through the backing sheet and their free ends may then be united as by pliers. These forms of wire holding means may also be employed with any of the three forms of packages described above.

The invention provides a display package for mops, etc. which will greatly enhance the attractiveness of a line of such articles, which will reveal the full dimensions of the mops, which will obviate soiling of the mops, and which will withstand considerable transportation and handling without deterioration.

Obviously the invention may be embodied in various forms neither shown nor described.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A dust mop display package comprising, in combination, a relatively stiff backing sheet; a dust mop; a holder on the backing sheet engaged with the mop frame on the inside; and a strong, thin, transparent, flexible sheet secured at its edges only to the backing sheet but under considerable tension, so that the yarn of the mop is maintained fully spread out and the frame of the mop is held on said holder.

2. A dust mop display package comprising, in combination, a relatively stiff backing sheet; a dust mop; means secured to said sheet and engaging the mop to hold the mop on the backing sheet; and a sheet of tough, transparent, flexible material embracing said mop and secured under tension to the back of the backing sheet and spreading the yarn of the mop outwardly in all directions by the tension under which it is secured to the backing sheet.

3. A dust mop display package comprising, in combination, a relatively stiff backing sheet; a dust mop; means secured to said backing sheet and engaging the frame of the mop to hold the mop on the backing sheet; said frame snugly embracing said holding means and being disengageable therefrom by lifting; and a sheet of tough, transparent, flexible material embracing said mop and secured under tension to the back of the backing sheet and spreading the yarn of the mop outwardly in all directions by the tension under which it is secured to the backing sheet.

4. A dust mop display package comprising, in combination, a relatively stiff backing sheet; a dust mop; means secured to said sheet and engaging the mop to hold the mop on the sheet; and a sheet of tough, transparent, flexible material glued to the back of said backing adjacent the edges thereof and embracing the mop under such tension that the yarn thereof is spread outwardly in all directions.

5. A dust mop display package comprising, in combination, a relatively stiff backing sheet; a dust mop; means secured to said sheet and engaging the mop to hold the mop on the sheet; a sheet of tough, transparent, flexible material embracing said mop and secured under tension to the back of the backing and spreading the yarn of the mop outwardly in all directions by the tension under which it is secured to the backing; and a cardboard leg secured to the back of the backing and adapted to be bent outwardly to form an easel support.

6. A dust mop display package comprising, in combination, a relatively stifi backing sheet; a

dust mop; a dust mop holder rigidly secured to the front face of the backing sheet and consisting of a member projecting outwardly far enough to extend through the opening in the dust mop frame, said member being slightly shorter than the length of said frame on the inside, and being slightly narrower than the width of the frame on the inside, so that the mop is substantially immovable laterally when placed on the holder, but may be lifted off the backing sheet without interference; and a flexible, transparent sheet secured under tension to the back of the backing sheet and spreading the yarn of the mop outwardly in all directions.

7. A dust mop display package comprising, in combination, a relatively stiff backing sheet; a dust mop; a dust mop holder rigidly secured to the front face of the'backing sheet and consisting of a cardboard strip projecting outwardly far enough to extend through the opening in the dust mop frame, said cardboard strip being slightly shorter than the length of said frame on the inside, and being slightly narrower than the width of the frame on the inside, so that the mop is substantially immovable laterally when placed on the holder, but may be lifted off the backing without interference; the projecting part of said cardboard strip having a long side and a short side so that it leans in one direction to permit the yarn to be laid over it to completely hide it; and a flexible, transparent sheet secured under tension to the back of the stiff backing sheet and spreading the yarn of the mop outwardly in all directions.

8. A display package comprising, in combination, a mop; a stiff, flat backing sheet over one face of which the mop is spread; means formed on the backing sheet and holding the mop against lateral shifting in any direction on the surface over which the mop is spread; and a transparent, flexible, tough sheet secured under tension to the backing sheet and assisting in holding the mop and maintaining it permanently spread.

9. A display package comprising, in combination, a mop having a frame; a flat stiff backing sheet over one face of which the yarn of the mop is spread; an elongated cardboard strip secured to the same face of the backing sheet and presenting a shoulder substantially at right angles to the plane of said face; said strip being short of the ends of the backing sheet and fitting within the mop frame and holding the mop against slipping or shifting on the backing sheet; and a transparent, flexible sheet secured under tension to the backing sheet and holding the mop spread.

10. A display package comprising, in combination, a mop having a frame; a substantially unyielding support having thereon means engaging said frame to hold the mop against shifting on the support; and a flexible, yielding sheet which is at least semi-transparent and which is united under tension to the support and which thus holds the yarn of the mop flattened out against said support.

11. A display package comprising, in combination, a mop; a backing sheet; a flexible, yielding, transparent sheet; which is united under tension to the backing sheet near the edges thereof; the tension of the transparent sheet being sufficient to hold the yarn of the mop flattened out to its fullest extent against the backing sheet; the backing sheet being stiff enough to maintain said tension throughout the life of the package.

RALPH F. HENN. 

